OMAL Automation is a pioneer valve and actuator manufacturer, renowned for product solutions that are characterized by superior quality and high performance. Headquartered in Italy, the company has expanded its reach to successfully permeate the United States. With a strong focus on their groundbreaking design, the company continues to strive for a high level of success.
Valve World Americas had the pleasure of speaking with Vittorio Bonomi, General Manager of Omal USA Corp., about continued growth in the U.S. market, their dedication to quality products, and the power of their innovative engineering department.
By Charlie Evans
Success in Expansion
With a strong foothold in Italy, OMAL Automation expanded into the U.S. in 2020 and has continued its steady growth throughout the subsequent years. “From the North American side of things, we are still an infant in terms of market penetration. However, we are growing,” said Bonomi. “We have been around as a company long enough to be stable and have a strong brand. We are well stablished in our processes and therefore have a wide range of offerings that newer companies may not necessarily have.”
“Once the U.S. branch was established, we shifted all of our focus onto our customers and then, naturally, our products,” he continued. OMAL has offerings in a variety of markets, including industrial, food, chemical, pharmaceutical, power and energy, naval sectors, and more. “Our commitment to improvement alongside our competence and professionalism is seen in our custom-fit products, services, and strong work ethic. We can guarantee quality and results in all our markets,” said Bonomi.
Putting Quality First
OMAL Automation’s production process offers complete design solutions, die-casting, plastic molding, mechanical processing, assembly, and stress testing. This all-around service is completed during production to prove and demonstrate that the company upholds quality products above all else. “We work with our customers, starting with the choice of raw materials all the way up to product forming and product certification to ensure the highest quality. Our customers are aware that working in this direction, in close proximity with Omal, they can find a tailor-made solution in the general catalogue or through dedicated development. Both are manufactured in Omal Automation under one roof.”
“People buy our products and there is a reason for that,” relayed Bonomi. “You are making an investment by purchasing that of higher quality. Customers get a reduced total cost of ownership, reduced maintenance costs, reduced downtime, and reduced risk from that downtime. We want to be the best value for high quality and ensure our products last. There are reasons why someone should go to a higher quality product like ours.”
“We have been around as a company long enough to be stable and have a strong brand. We are well established in our processes and therefore have a wide range of offerings that newer companies may not necessarily have.”
One product that exemplifies their technological innovation is OMAL’s VIP EVO valve. The VIP EVO is an on/off coaxial valve and the foundation of OMAL’s flagship product, the VIP valve. VIP EVO has the same function of the VIP but increases the allowable pressure from 140 psi to 600 psi. The rotary pneumatic actuator and valve function are integrated in one single body. The axial piston for on-off operation is driven by the compressed air. Internal fluid dynamics of the media have been incorporated into the design to reduce turbulence and pressure loss. Added features such as easy mounting and comparative longevity of up to ten times that of a ball valve, as well as reduced operating costs of air consumption in comparison to other valve selections, make the VIP EVO a quality product that is paramount for optimized operations.
At least 90% of the requests OMAL receives are fulfilled with its standard product range. For the remaining requests, the company works within its network of partners and engineering team to develop a solution. “The capability of the technical department, as well as our research and development team, is huge scale,” he continued. “Our engineering department is where we truly shine.”
“You are making an investment by purchasing that of higher quality. Customers get a reduced total cost of ownership, reduced maintenance costs, reduced downtime, and reduced risk from that downtime. We want to be the best value for high quality and ensure our products last. There are reasons why someone should go to a higher quality product like ours.”
Innovative Engineering
One of OMAL’s biggest advantages as a company is its engineering department. “Our internal engineering team is great,” said Bonomi. “We have a lot of unique products as clients have come to us when the market is lacking the product they desire.” This allows the engineering team to manufacture and design a solution for the customer, subsequently adding that solution to their expansive wheelhouse of products to present to other customers.
“For us, special is the standard,” continued Bonomi. “Being engineer-driven gives us the ability to penetrate new markets and get people to think of you, as well as continue to want to work with you. We offer those tailor-made solutions.”
With 200 employees working worldwide, OMAL takes pride in its engineering team. “That is large enough to expand and work across the whole spectrum of our four facilities as well as our large product range, which consists of valves, actuators, and individual components,” said Bonomi. “If you include the finished products and individual components, the number of SKUs in our system is over 70,000, which is quite substantial.”
With such a high volume, it is no wonder OMAL has solidified its presence in the American market. “We are in a sweet spot right now, because we are making those high-quality products for several markets, and we are doing it at a high enough volume,” he continued.
OMAL AUTOMATION AT A GLANCE
OMAL S.p.A. was founded in 1981 by Agostino Bonomi in the city of Polaveno in Val Trompia, a province of Brescia, Italy. Bonomi belonged to a family of successful entrepreneurs with diversified activities, including the production of industrial valves. The initial vision was that the growth of this sector would be attributed to the implementation, research, and development in the fi eld of process automation. That vision allowed OMAL Automation to grow into a company in which close-knit teams of specialized technicians and engineers have succeeded in developing innovative products in various industry sectors. Mr. Amedeo Bonomi, the current CEO, for more than a decade is taking Omal Group of companies to the next level in North America and world-wide with unprecedented growth and remarkable investments.
Looking to the Future
OMAL Italy is a reputable and well-recognized brand in the European market. It is only natural that OMAL USA would follow in its parent company’s footsteps. “Our location allows our products to be less than a day away from the majority of the United States. We want to be that go-to manufacturer, and we are getting there.” Their commitment to sustainability is evident throughout their product range without compromising product quality.
“As for the future, we want to hone our focus on the process industry and industrial automation,” said Bonomi. “We want to continue our growth. In all areas of our work, the future is very bright.”
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the profiled company and may not reflect the position of Valve World Americas.